Bakkies' emotional team talk

2011-10-06 10:05

Wellington - His campaign wrecked by injury and facing the end of his international rugby career, veteran lock Bakkies Botha delivered a sombre message to Springboks team-mates ahead of their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Australia.

Botha missed selection in the South Africa team for Sunday's match after aggravating an Achilles' tendon injury and will not play again at the tournament.

But he set aside immense personal disappointment to address team-mates on Thursday with a rallying message and a reminder: You never know which test may be your last.

"Bakkies had a talk to the team this morning and it did get a little bit emotional," said winger Bryan Habana.

"We've had a guy that's really given his heart to this country for the last 10 years and he's become a good friend to a lot of us. He's a strong character within this team, not only by the way he carries on off the field, but his ability to bring this team together on the field."

Habana stopped short of saying there wasn't a dry eye in the house but he admitted Botha's message, and the circumstance in which it was delivered, was sobering.

"Yes, it was a bit sombre in the team room this morning and I think Bakkies said it the most. He said you never know when it's going to be your last game," Habana said.

"I think it is tough on the team.

"Whether it was tougher losing Frans Steyn, or New Zealand losing Dan Carter, it's difficult to say, but he's become a great friend, a great rugby player and the ability he had to lift this team will live in our hearts for quite a while."

Comments

mike mason - 2011-10-06 10:10

Bakkies is BakGat...

HJS - 2011-10-06 10:14

Bakkies jou doring. Really tough luck to finish the RWC campaing this way. Danie now it is all up to you to be the "enforcer". You've done it before, you can do it again. This was the final piece of motivation the team needed. Now they going all the way.

aus_beats_sa - 2011-10-06 10:35

Yeah all the way home

Makatees - 2011-10-06 10:37

Aussie dont you have a sheep to shag instead of talking crap on this site?

Danie - 2011-10-06 11:17

@ aus beats sa, what do you call a sheep tied to a pole in australia???? A Playstation.!!!! How do you recognize an ausie in a motor spares shop??? He's the F@cker rubbing the sheep seat covers with a hard on!!!!! Bokke to bliksem the ausies by 15!!!!!!!!

MTRJ - 2011-10-06 11:31

@Wallaby - What a sad little man when you cannot even spell your own countrymen's surname! Samo! Not Samu. I suspect you are a bitter saffa. Idiot!

Serias - 2011-10-06 11:32

@ Wallaby.................our backline will score 50 points in the first half...............in the second half our forwards will eventually run on the field.

Bakkie...warrior, you live on...in the hearts of your Bok-teammates and the SA fans.
Thank you for your contribution to SA Rugby.
Bakkies...sterkte man!

Bova007 - 2011-10-06 10:20

Bakkies can slam a revolving door!

Shakes - 2011-10-06 11:06

Bakkies can click the unclickable button twice

No8 - 2011-10-06 11:26

Bakkies can tear a page out of Facebook!

Gareth Davidson - 2011-10-06 13:14

Bakkies can speak braille......

Dros - 2011-10-06 13:36

Bakkies can Tweet without using Twitter

Tools1 - 2011-10-06 13:56

Death had a near Bakkies experience.

Tools1 - 2011-10-06 13:58

When the tockelosh goes to bed he first makes dead sure Bakkies isnt under it.

No8 - 2011-10-06 14:32

Since Bakkies had been to the Virgin Islands, they now call it The Islands.

Carl vg - 2011-10-06 10:21

Black Armbands on Sunday!!

Makatees - 2011-10-06 10:23

The man is a Legend

Otello - 2011-10-06 10:29

Bakkies Botha bit the Apple logo.
Bakkies Botha has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life.
Bakkies Botha doesn't flush the toilet, he scares the sh*t out of it.
Bakkies Botha can strangle you with a cordless phone.
Death once had a near-Bakkies Botha experience
Bakkies Botha doesn't need a GPS. Bakkies Botha decides where he is.
Bakkies Botha was in all 6 Star Wars movies... As The Force.
The sheep on Bakkies Botha' farm are the ones that give us steel wool.
Bakkies Botha can light a fire by rubbing two ice-cubes together.
Bakkies Botha will never have a heart attack. His heart isn't nearly foolish enough to attack him.
Bakkies Botha can speak Braille.
When Bakkies Botha throws a boomerang it doesn't dare come back
Bakkies Botha does not fart, nothing escapes Bakkies Botha
Some kids pee their name in snow. Bakkies Botha pees his name in concrete.
Bakkies Botha can leave a message before the beep.
Bakkies Botha can use Mxit on a pay phone.
Bakkies Botha can divide by zero.

sharkbait - 2011-10-06 10:35

Everytime Bakkies goes to the sea, he swims 2 laps
Bakkies sleeps with the light on. Not becasue he is afraid of the dark, but because the dark is afraid of Bakkies
Bakkies can kill a Toyota Hilux

To all tha ab and oz wank*ers: Bakkies makes Chuck Noris look like Quade Cooper. Thanks for all the games you played Bakkies. All the best. You rock man!!!!!

Tru_SA - 2011-10-06 12:18

@johnny-BB ....what does the bb stand for Blue balls ,is that why your comments are always so lame and you know absolutely nothing about rugby, to busy on those different websites i'd say...

Angelo - 2011-10-06 12:25

Kangaroos are a bunch of Matildas convicts that cannot even look after the sheep let alone try to play rugby . GO BOKKE hope the kangos have not paid the ref/?

Wallaby - 2011-10-06 13:29

Bakkies is Rocky's 'bunny'. And now he can't play. The 'Rock' is upset.
:(
We don't like an upset 'Rock'. Makes him 'snappy'.

TheBush Catable - 2011-10-06 13:51

I know it's generalizing...But it is mostly true.
You Aussies only know your team or a sport when you are winning.
A few years back I stayed with Aussie friends (a married couple). There was a cricket series against Aus and they were killing us in most games. I kept having to put up with snide comments about our players and how great theirs were.
One game we did do well in, I went to the gym and left the match on TV, when I got home the TV was off, I asked how the cricket was going. The reply: "What cricket, is there cricket on today?"

Ann - 2011-10-06 12:43

Bakkies, you're the BEST!

draaft - 2011-10-06 13:11

Proteas to beat the Aussies by 8 runs or 2 wickets
Springboks to beat the Wobblies by a convincing 9 points.
21-12.
0 tries to 2.
Lekke Morne! (Morkel and Steyn)

david.roets - 2011-10-06 13:14

Stil vrinne, daar gaan 'n MAN verby...!

Aabels - 2011-10-06 13:22

Is this lurker finally out. Let him come home immediately. His fake praying spells before and after a game does not impress any one.

Byron - 2011-10-06 13:43

Thank you Bakkies. For all the rugby I have watched you play. Thank you for choosing rugby and representing your country in a sport as your job or career. You will always be in my thoughts as a great player who never gave anything less than his best. Critics can say what the want. You earned your trade on the field and did the best you could and also earned respect from competitors. Representing your nation at a sport like rugby has got to be one of the most difficult jobs to do in South Africa. Thanks again, and I wish you all the best with your future! I can still remember the first time I saw your name, Natal Mercury, game week build up headlines on sports page, Natal vs Bulls, BAKKIES vs MARK ANDREWS!!! what a game it was, a good bye to a legend and a birth of another!

Lance - 2011-10-07 15:49

Bakkies is available for the Boks in 2012...heard him say it.."if he is needed" he said..

Byron - 2011-10-06 14:32

Thank you Bakkies. For all the rugby I have watched you play. Thank you for choosing rugby and representing your country in a sport as your job or career. You will always be in my thoughts as a great player who never gave anything less than his best. Critics can say what the want. You earned your trade on the field and did the best you could and also earned respect from competitors. Representing your nation at a sport like rugby has got to be one of the most difficult jobs to do in South Africa. Thanks again, and I wish you all the best with your future! I can still remember the first time I saw your name, Natal Mercury, game week build up headlines on sports page, Natal vs Bulls, BAKKIES vs MARK ANDREWS!!! what a game it was, a good bye to a legend and a birth of another!

JG - 2011-10-06 16:08

Bakkies is like a speeding Putco bus. Unstoppable, cleans out anything in his path, but can break down any moment...

MatthewC135 - 2011-10-06 17:53

Great sentiment... Lets hope this is not John and Victor's last game either. All the way Bokke!

ian - 2011-10-06 18:15

SNORRE SAID TO BOK TEAM .Give me an example of complete business failure due to professional negligence.John Smit responded PREGNANT AUSTRAILIAN PROSTITUDE.

722 - 2011-10-06 18:28

Jy is `n yster bakkies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Clark Kent - 2011-10-06 20:50

Oh no not anothe Bakies story but wait there is more!!
How many words did he string together in a row
If the cover of this man wasnt so pathetic it would be sad

Lance - 2011-10-07 15:53

Have you heard....Toys r Us is no longer selling Superman suits...because the kids only want to be Bakkies Botha !

Christopher - 2011-10-06 23:16

With all respect Bakkies is a walking talking redcard waiting 2 happen & that we cannot afford now! All the best Ba
kkies we wish u a speedy recovery! Russouw fills his shoes just fine!

Jerry - 2011-10-30 19:35

Bakkies and the Spring-goats are both HASBEENS...!!!!!! Thank goodness they have both been put to rest...!!! Good riddens.....:-)